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Five Key Lessons from My Financial Analyst Internship at SouthBridge Rwanda: Insights from Mbasini Sagnia



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Five Key Lessons from My Financial Analyst Internship at SouthBridge Rwanda: Insights from Mbasini Sagnia


My name is Mbasini Sagnia, and I am currently working as an Analyst Intern at SouthBridge Rwanda. Originally from the Gambia, I completed high school in Rwanda and moved back after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The College of New Jersey.

My responsibilities include performing relevant research on ongoing and prospective mandates, supporting the Analysts with the creation of pitch decks, teasers, and information memoranda, and researching contacts of potential investors/strategic partners. In my free time, I enjoy reading and playing sports, both activities contribute to my open-minded and resilient approach to work.

I am grateful for the countless lessons learned during my internship. But there were 5 key points that stood out to me, and I believe will contribute gratefully to my career:

 

Confidence

During the internship, I recognized the importance of confidence not only in my skills but in the way I conducted myself in professional settings. As I engaged with various clients, potential investors and other professionals, I learned the importance of introducing myself confidently. As I engaged in various tasks, from conducting preliminary research to presenting findings, I understood the significance of projecting confidence in my demeanor and communication style. Whether it was confidently introducing myself to clients or colleagues, articulating insights during team meetings, or presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders, I realized that a confident presence instils trust and credibility.

 

Preliminary Researching

During the internship, I had to delve into the importance of preliminary research as one of the foundational steps in the analytical process. This included researching market data, exploring industry trends, examining company backgrounds and even countries’ social, economic and financial environments. This was essential to provide accurate assistance to our clients as well as relevant information to potential investors. By scouring through financial reports, industry publications, and reputable sources, I learned how to identify relevant information, assess its credibility, and extract actionable insights.

 

Client Interaction and Communication

Throughout my internship, I honed my skills in client interaction and communication. Through preparing presentations, responding to inquiries or participating in meetings, I learned the importance of effectively converting concepts to clients. Engaging with clients not only helped me understand their unique needs and objectives but also allowed me to adapt my communication style to suit different audiences.

 

Teamwork and Collaboration

Through working at SouthBridge, I was able to understand the significance of teamwork and collaboration in a dynamic financial environment. Working with clients, analysts, and other professionals, I was able to observe different ways how to contribute effectively to team projects. Collaborating with diverse team members from different backgrounds allowed for several unique approaches to tackling challenges.

 

Financial Analysis Skills

During my financial analyst internship, I began my journey of understanding the fundamentals of financial analysis. I had the opportunity to learn about how the three different financial statements interact with one another. Though my understanding is still an ongoing process, I am happy to have grasped the basics to lay a solid foundation for my future growth in financial analysis.


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